In short
Check passports and visas for every country on the route, take travel insurance and do the online check-in. Pack layers, walking shoes, one nicer outfit and a day bag with medication and documents for the first hours on board. Arrive at your check-in time; drinks, excursions and the service charge are usually extra.
What to do and when
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| After booking | Check passports: many cruise lines require them to be valid for six months after your return. Check visas and entry rules for every country on the route. Take travel insurance with cancellation cover. |
| 2–3 months before | Book the train or flight to the port — flying in the day before is safer. Book excursions you really want; popular ones sell out. |
| 2–4 weeks before | Online check-in in the cruise line's app or website: passport details, photo, card for the on-board account, check-in time. |
| The week before | Download the app and boarding documents, print the luggage tags, check the weather on the route. |
| The day before | Pack the hand luggage for the first hours on board; arrive near the port if you are travelling far. |
What to pack
| Category | What to take |
|---|---|
| Documents | Passport or ID card, boarding documents, insurance details, bank card, some cash in the local currency |
| Clothes | Layers — evenings on deck are cool even in summer; comfortable walking shoes; one nicer outfit for a gala night; swimwear |
| Health | Your medication for the whole trip in your hand luggage, something for seasickness, sunscreen |
| Tech | Phone charger and a power bank; outlets in cabins are often few. Many lines do not allow extension leads with a plug |
| Handy extras | A small day bag for ports, a reusable water bottle, a lanyard or holder for the cruise card |
Not allowed on board on most lines: kettles, irons and other heating appliances, candles, drones without permission. Check your line's list.
Embarkation day
- Arrive at your check-in time, not much earlier — the terminal is busiest at the start. Hand in your large suitcases at the terminal with the tags on.
- Check-in and security take longer than at an airport on large ships. You receive your cruise card: cabin key, ID on board and wallet in one.
- Lunch and a walk around the ship while the cabins are being prepared. Keep medication, documents and swimwear in your hand luggage.
- The safety drill (muster) before departure is compulsory for everyone: you find your muster station and learn what to do in an emergency.
- Suitcases arrive at your cabin in the afternoon or early evening.
- Sail-away — and in the evening, read the daily programme for the next day.
How the days that follow look: a typical day on a cruise.
Things first-timers don't expect
- The service charge is often added per person per day to your on-board account.
- Most drinks, specialty restaurants and excursions are paid separately — see money and tips on a cruise.
- Mobile roaming at sea works through the ship's network and is expensive — see internet and phone on a cruise.
- Ship's time can differ from your phone's time; the ship's time counts for the all-aboard time.
- Routes can change because of weather — see cancelled port or missed ship.
Read before your first cruise
- How to choose a cabin
- Documents and visas
- Travel insurance for a cruise
- A short first cruise of 2–4 nights
- Cruise myths
Common questions
What should I not forget for my first cruise?
A valid passport or ID card, travel insurance details, your medication in the hand luggage, layers for cool evenings, walking shoes and a charger. Do the online check-in in advance.
How early should I arrive at the port?
At the check-in time you chose during online check-in. Arriving much earlier usually means waiting. If you fly in, arrive the day before.
Do I need formal clothes?
No. Most evenings are smart casual; one nicer outfit is enough for a gala night if you want to dress up.
Can I bring my own drinks on board?
Rules differ per cruise line: some allow a bottle of wine at embarkation, most do not allow spirits. Check your line's policy.
What is the safety drill?
A compulsory briefing before departure: you go to your muster station or watch a short video and learn what to do in an emergency. It takes about 15–30 minutes.
Booking your first cruise through the club
You see member prices as soon as you activate your membership, and you can book a cruise from 15 days after activation. You pay either the member price (INsider Pricing), about 17% below the retail price, or with your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the price of qualifying bookings; they do not add up in one booking. Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search. How booking with points works →
General information; documents, luggage rules and inclusions differ by cruise line and route. Check the rules of your line and the countries you visit. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.